Clinics Information and Application

Clinical legal education is the study of law and lawyering in context. You will work with real clients on real problems.

Students, under the close supervision of their clinical professors, are encouraged to identify and pursue their own learning goals while providing essential representation to a wide range of clients and causes.

Clinic students test their strengths as they take on increasing responsibility for their clients’ cases and projects. They are doing their work while knowing they have the watchful supervision of experienced teachers. They also feel the profound weight of working on important and often personal matters.

Students become counselors, mediators, litigators, and educators as they learn to apply legal knowledge and other skills to their clients’ diverse concerns.

If you are interested in applying, check out the Clinic Application below.

How Do I Get More Information?

Live Events to Learn More:

Wednesday, March 25, 2015: 12:15 – 1:30 PM: JG-103Presentations by the Clinical FacultyPizza will be served

Tuesday, March 31, 2015: 12:15 – 1:15 PM: JG Annex LoungeOpen House (Kosher & non-Kosher refreshments) with current/former Clinic studentsAt least one student from each of the clinics being offered will be available for questions

Follow up questions:If you have questions about a particular clinic, please speak with or e-mail the faculty member in charge of that clinic, before or after the presentation. If you have questions about procedures, please call 212-854-4291, or e-mail clinicregistration@law.columbia.edu.

Application Procedures and Deadlines

If you are interested in taking a clinic in Spring 2015, please pay attention to the schedule below. It is designed to let you know, prior to pre-registration for other classes, whether you have been accepted into a clinic.

Monday, March 23 through noon Monday, April 13, 2015. This is the application period.Follow the instructions on the attached application forms concerning interviews, submission of resumes, etc. Please note that you must complete the appropriate questionnaire for each clinic to which you are applying in addition to the single cover page that can be used for all clinics. However, you only need to submit one resume with the entire application. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the application process prior to the end of the application period.

What is the Application Deadline?

SPECIAL NOTE: If you have substantial changes in your situation, after your application has been submitted (such as considering taking an externship in the same term), you MUST notify the Clinical faculty in writing with this information.

Friday, April 24th - 5:00 p.m. - Students will receive notice via e-mail if they have been accepted into a clinic. All students not selected in the first round will be put on a waiting list for consideration in the event that someone selected in the first round is unable to accept.

Please note: You will automatically be placed on the waiting list for all the clinics for which you applied and will not receive an e-mail unless a spot opens up.

Wednesday, April 29th– Students who have been accepted into a clinic must accept offers by 12:00 noon today. PLEASE do not accept an offer unless you actually will register for and take the clinic during FALL 2015. We encourage students to speak to clinic professors and students who have taken CLS clinics during the application period to understand the requirements of a clinic before accepting a place. It is important that clinic spaces, which are heavily in demand, do not go unfilled and that waiting list students are not disadvantaged by late entry into a clinic. Follow the accept/decline procedure set forth in the e-mail you receive. The Clinic Administrator will enroll you in the clinic during early registration period.

Tuesday, April 30th– Students on the waiting list will receive notice by 5:00p.m., if they have been accepted for a clinic.

Monday, May 4th– Students accepted from the waiting list must follow the accept/decline procedures by 12:00 noon.

AFTER APPLICATION PERIOD IS OVER. Sometimes spaces become available for clinics after the application period has finished. Students will be notified by e-mail if a space becomes available before the beginning of the FALL 2015 semester.